One run enough for Sayville to top Wantagh

It’s not often a baseball game is decided in the first inning, however that was the case in Thursday afternoon’s Long Island Class A championship at Middle Country Athletic Complex in Selden when Sayville dodged a bullet in the top half and pushed across the lone run in the bottom half for a 1-0 victory over Wantagh.

“If I would’ve know it was going to end 1-0, we would’ve tried to move the runners over in the top of the first,” said Wantagh coach Keith Sachs, referring to the Warriors’ drawing back-to-back walks to open the game. “I thought we were going to put up a nice crooked number in the first,” he added. “It’s a tough one to lose. We didn’t get much going and neither did they. Infielders on both teams made all the plays on the turf. The toughest part is not having another practice with these guys. It’s an awesome group.”

Christian Danzilo pitched another gem for Wantagh allowing just two hits. The game’s lone run was scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sayville catcher Shane Meehan, who’s battery mate to open the game was lifted after two batters.

Relievers Joe Strining and Tyler Brown were terrific taking the mound after starting at first base and left field, respectively. Strining recorded a double play grounder to Kyle Messina at shortstop to end the top of the first and went four innings. Brown earned the save retiring all nine batters he faced.

“Both of those guys were ready to go and wanted the ball,” Sayville coach Joe Esposito said. “The moment that can turn a game around can happen at any time. Joe has been one of our main relievers and is always effective, never allowed a run all season. He’s perfect in that spot because he doesn’t show a lot of emotion, just goes out and does the job. Then Tyler came in and was just unbelievable. He was lights-out.”

The Warriors managed three hits against Strining and had runners on first and second in the second and fourth innings but were unable to cash in.

In the meantime, Danzilo kept the Golden Flashes in check and the margin at one throughout. He stranded runners in scoring position in the second, third and sixth.

 “Nothing bothers Christian, he has such a great demeanor on the mound,” Sachs said of Wantagh’s ace. “You can’t tell if he’s pitching in a scrimmage or a championship game. He looked great today it’s too bad we couldn’t get him a couple of runs.”

Messina had eight putouts for Sayville, which captured its first L.I. title since 2019 and second in program history.

“It was an intense game,” Messina said. “We lost some heartbreakers in the playoffs the past few years. The way this feels I can’t even describe it.”